Sunday, March 29, 2009

It never ceases to amaze me that in a world where there is so much to be grateful for (giggling babies, dogs riding with their heads sticking out of car windows, cancer-free lives, democracy, chocolate cream pie, Seinfeld repeats, Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World", The annual hotdog-eating contest at Nathan's in Coney Island, Blue Man Group, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, the smell of fresh-mowed grass, sunrises, sunsets + everything in between), there are certain people that still plod through each day angry + miserable, bemoaning their fate and blaming others for where they've landed in life. I call these folks UMPs (short for Unhappy, Miserable People), and they never fail to inspire awe in me with the lengths they will go to try to make you an UMP as well.

I'm sure you know a few UMPs yourself--let's face it, we all do. There's one lurking in every office, every gym, every neighborhood, and they just love to chip away at you with their UMPiness, hoping to wear you down so you become as bitter as they are. Well, I have news for you UMPs of the world (and you know who you are!)--there is a little thing called gratitude + it is a super force field against your UMP-Rays. As a person who wakes up each morning filled with gratitude that I am here to enjoy another day, grateful for the simplest gifts I've been given and am allowed to witness (please reference list above in paragraph one re: babies and chocolate cream pie) I pity you for wallowing in your Unhappy Misery.

Readers, with tomorrow being the much loathed back to work day (and thus, an UMPs favorite day to wreak havoc) make a commitment to be grateful for the gifts you've been blessed with. Moving forward, start each morning by sending a thank you out into the universe; do it from bed, or in the shower, or on line at Starbucks, or in rush hour traffic...but do it. I promise that you will become happier and more peaceful as a result.

Of course those grumpy UMPs won't stand a chance, as they are rendered powerless in the face of true joy and contentment. Yes, yes, it's sad that they choose to fester in misery rather than soar with happiness, but the way I see it, that simply means there's more chocolate cream pie + peanut butter cups for us.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Spring (finally!) arrives tomorrow, and I am heading to the beach for the weekend, weather be damned.

I've decided that moving forward, Friday's are going to be "me" days; a day set aside for writing, crafting, cooking, exploring, being. I feel that I need to nurture my soul for awhile, and worry about the money a little bit later.

Life is too short not to do the things you love most;the things that give you pure, heartfelt joy.

And with that being said, I'm off to pack my bag. And even though it's only going to be in the high 40s tomorrow, you better believe I'm packing my flip flops.

Happy Vernal Equinox, everyone.

Love,Suzanne

PS. A big hug and thanks to everyone who wrote me such sweet comments last week. Good stuff all around.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

As I mentioned yesterday, this has been a supremely crummy week. I would love to cast blame for this crumminess on the full moon, the time change, or the fact that this week played host to a Friday the 13th, but alas, I am simply just not superstitious enough to do so. Instead, I am chalking this week up to a perfect storm of work + relationship + personal issues that all came to a head at precisely the same time, leaving me bobbing around like a cork at sea, in a Class 5 hurricane. Now, as most of you who read this weblog regularly know 1. I am relatively a glass is half full sort of sistah, and, 2. I am that way, despite the fact that the past year has been a challenging one, to say the least.

But this week was difficult in a whole new way. You see, I wasn't sure if I was on the right path.

There. I said it. It's out there.

Suddenly, I find myself working ten, twelve, fifteen hour days and never finding time to write or cook, which are the things I love to do the most. And, I have no time for crafting or photography, which fall second on my list. And, as a result, I feel like I am not the clever little monkey I was before I set out on this junket of mine. Basically--at the end of the day--I feel unfulfilled. And, in my book. that is unacceptable.

So, of course I got weepy. And felt sorry for myself. And I took that frustration out on others who had nothing to do with the path I chose or the situation I'm in.

But then, in between eating too much guacamole + crying on too many patient shoulders, I suddenly had a moment of clarity.

PS. Someone out there send me a good recipe for Heaven's sake. I'm wildly uninspired in the kitchen these days. Something springy + fresh. I'm thinking morels, or rhubarb, or peas, or fresh eggs from the farm. Oh, whatever...just something new.

LATER THAT EVENING....

The light in New York is beautiful this time of year. Golden + delicious. I snapped this from my Jeep on Rte 100.Finally...salvation. In a glass.I love this saying... Food, Like Life, Is to Be Shared. So true. I will borrow that often.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

After taking the winter off for some much needed battery recharging, I'm filled with joy to announce that I just signed on to do a few new TV spots with my good friends at WTNH in New Haven. First up is a Mother's Day craft show on May 9th. I'm hoping to get my mom and my niece to join me on that show, so stop back soon for new crafts and recipes especially for the ladies we love!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

My baby cousin, Kevin + his wife, Leah, gifted us with a new family member last evening--a 10 lb. 3 oz. mega-pooper (so I hear) named Logan. God bless you Leah for pushing that Thanksgiving turkey out. Now go get yourself a margarita, sister!

Just learned I cannot shower or wash my hair until MONDAY. No sweating (thus, no gym). No humidity (rain is in the forecast for tomorrow). And Jiji just asked me if I could sleep on a satin pillow for the next three days.

Uninspired.Serious case of writer's block.Staggering loss of creativity.Sick of wool.Hate my hair.Don't even get me started on the economy.

But I've decided that the little pity party is over; I'm shaking things up starting riiiiiighhhht..... NOW. This weekend I will be doing a little photo blogging to help jump start my creative battery. I have nothing exceptional planned for this weekend, so my goal is to find the extraordinary in the everyday ordinary.

SHOP!

About Me

Suzanne Brown is an award-winning graphic designer, lifelong foodie, author of Summer: A User's Guide, and proud Summerologist, who happily wears her flip-flops into fall, hoping to stretch the season out just a little longer.
Suzanne has done guest spots for Good Morning San Diego, NBC 30, Fox 28, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, the Jacey Eckhart Show, and many more radio and television programs. In addition, she is a frequent contributor to Good Morning Connecticut in New Haven.
If you are interested in Suzanne for TV, radio, print, or web-based content, email her at suzanne@summerologist.com